Crank-pin lock nut and guard



Feb. 21, 1928. 1,659,714

w. F. ZIMMERMANN CRANK P IN LOCK NUT AND GUARD Filed Jan, 12. 1925 I9217 Z7 24 11l- IjIIIIII/' 1 g :0 k j .zz i //V 2,1; l: I in V- 14 I .21 at Z g now Patented Feb. 21 1928.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM F. ZIMMERMANN, 0F MAPLEWOOD, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNO R TO GOULD 82;"

EBEREARDT, 0F NEWARK, NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATIDN OF NEW JERSEY.

CRANK-PIN LOCK NUT ANDGUARD'.

Application filed January This invention relates to shapers and it dealsmore particularly with means for re ulating the stroke of the cuttingtool.

Shapers, as commonly constructed, include a box-type column, atool-carrying ram translatably mounted in guideways at the top of thecolumn and means to reciprocate the ram. One preferred means forreciprocating the ram comprises a lever of the third class, fulorumed atone end in the lower part of the column and having its upper endpivotally connected with the ram. Power to oscillate the lever, therebyto cause reciprocation'of the ram, is provided by a crank-pin carried bya bull gear and operati-ng in a slot formed lengthwise in the lever. Thebull gear is provided with a long hub journaled in the column and isadapted to be rotated continuously during the operation of the machinetool. To provide means for regulating the extent of oscillation of thelever and consequently the stroke of the ram, the crank pin is usuallycarried by :a slide adjustably mounted in guide-ways provided :by thebull gear and means is provided for adjusting the slide in its guideWaythereby to change the eccentricity of the crank pin with respect to theaxis-of the gear.

Inasmuch as the stroke of the ram must be changed frequently to give tothe tool its required cutting stroke, the length of which is determinedby the Work, it is essential that the means for varying the throw of thelever (that is the means for shifting the crankpin slide) be readilyaccessible .to the operator and convenient of manipulation. It is alsoessential that means be provided to lock the slide against accidentalmovement after the desired setting has been effected.

This invention therefore has for its pri mary object to combine with themeans for regulating the stroke of the ram an improvedlocking device forholding the parts in their adjusted positions.

A further object is to provide a locking device which may be actuatedwith greater facility than prior devices, which is more positive itsaction, and which maybe manipulated -;without pain or injury to thehands of theoperator.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a locking deviceas above described, which includes :a clamp nut of such shape andproportions that it readily'may 12, 1925. Serial N0. 11,'9 45.

be grasped by the entire hand of the operator, and rotated without hishand coming into contact with the edges thereof.

Still another object of the invention is so to construct the clamp nutthat it may be utilized as a guard for the'continuously rotated squaredend of the lock-actuating shaft.

Another object is so to form the clamp .nut that a portion thereof willserve as a disclosure and, in such drawings, like char- I actors ofreference denote corresponding parts throughout all the views, of whichFig. 1 is a side elevation of a shaper embodying the present invention.Fig. 2 is an enlarged vertical section on the line mm of Fig. 1. Fig. 3is an enlarged central section of the combined lock-nut and guard andits associated parts.

Referring more particularly tothe drawings, the invention is disclosedas embodied in a shaper comprising a box-type column 1 within the upperend of which is slidably mounted the usual ram 2, carrying at itsforward end a suitable tool, not shown. The cam isreciprocated by alever 3, fulcrumed at .4, to a link 5, pivoted upon a pin 6 in the lowerpart of the column. Intermediate its ends, the lever is formed with aslot 7 within which is fitted aslide-block 8 carried by a crank-pin 9adjustably mounted eccentric to the axis of a bull gear 10. Thusrotation of the. bull gear, by any suitable driving mechanism, will,through the pin and slot connection 9-7 cause oscillation of the lever 3and thereby reciprocation of the ram.

To provide means for regulating the extent of oscillation of the lever 3and consequently the reciprocation of the ram, the

ment with respect to the axis of the gear. To this end the crank-pin iscarried by a slide 11 adjustably mounted in ways 12 carried by the gear.A screw 13, journaled at one end in a bearing lt provided by the gear10, has a threaded connection with the slide 11 and acts, upon rotationof the screw, to shift the crank pin either toward or from the axis ofthe gear, dependent upon the direction of rotation of the screw. Apinion 15 fixed to the feed screw 13 and a bevel gear 16 secured upon amanually rotatable shaft 17, afford means to rotate the screw. The shaft17 is journaled coaxial with the bull gear 10 in bearings 18 and 19provided by a bearing sleeve 20. This sleeve is formed integral with thebull gear 10 and serves to journal the bull gear in a bearing boss 21projecting horizontally ,fromthe side of the column 1. Outward movementof the bull gear and sleeve 20 is prevented by contact of the gear withthe inner end 21 of the boss 21 and a flange or plate 22, secured to thesleeve 20 by screws 23, serves to prevent inward movement thereof. Theshaft 17 projects from the side of the column and is squared at 2 1 toreceivea crank 25. This crank affords means by which the operator mayrotate the shaft and, through the bevel gears 15 and 16 andv feed-screw13, adjust the slide 11 in the ways 12, to vary the eccentricity'of thecrank-pin 9 with respect to the axis of the bull gear, thereby to effecta predetermined stroke of the ram.

The desired setting having been effected the parts are locked in theiradjusted positions to-prevent accidental movement thereof. Thisinvention provides new and improved means for effecting this locking ofthe parts and includes a multi-purpose member 26 threaded upon theportion 27 of the shaft 17. One of the purposes of the member 26 is toserve as a clamp-nut and therefore its end 26 is arranged to bearagainst the plate 22. lit will readily be perceived that inasmuch as themember 26 is held against inward movement by the plate 22, which acts asa thrust bearing, rotation of the member in one direction will cause theshaft 17 to be pulled endwise, thus drawing the gear 16 firmly against athrust bearing 27 provided by the bull gear, thereby clamping the gear16 against rotation. The gear being held against rotation serves to lockthe pinion 15 and screw 13 and there-' fore the slide 11 is maintainedin its ade justed positions. Reverse rotation of the member 26 releasesthe parts and permits the shaft 17 to be manually rotated to effect anydesired adjustment of the slide.

The specific construction and arrangement of the member 26 is one of theimportant features of this invention. This member is preferably ofcylindrical form and of a length sufficient to enable it to be graspedby the entire hand of the-operator.

The outer face is preferably knurled or otherwise roughened to provide abetter.

gripping surface for the operators hand. Thls construction of theclamping nut perloosen it with comparatively little effort and withoutinjury or pain to his hand. I

Certain types of locking devices heretofore provided have includedrelatively narrow mits the operator to grasp it tightly with his wholehandand either to tighten or locking nuts adapted to be grasped betweenthe thumb and one or two fingers. In grasping these prior devices theoperators fingers project over the edges'of the nut. Inasmuch as thegripping surface is relatively small great pressure must be applied bythe fingers to tighten the nut and this pressure causes- The member 26also serves a second purpose. That is to act as a guard for theprojecting square end of the shaft 17 which, during the operation of themachine-tool, is rotated continuously and is a constant source of dangerto the operator. This is accomplished by having the member extend outwardly from the column as far'as or further than the square endof theshaft, thus pro tecting both the operator and the shaft against injury.The outer end of the member 26 is counterbored at 28, thusprovidingclearance for the socketed end'29 of the crank 25.

A third purpose serve as a stop to limit the inward movement of thecrank 25. To this end the counterbore 28 terminates in a shoulder 80against which the inner end 29 of the socketed end of the crank abutsthus preventing the crank from becomlng ammed on the rounded portion 1'7of theshaft at the inner end of the flats 24* forming the squared end24:; V j

' From the foregoing it will be perceived that applicant has in a verylngenious man ner and by very simple construction, provided an improvedlocking device for the stroke ad usting means, a guard for the stroke adustlng shaft, and a device to prevent jamming of the stroke adjustingcrank. Without further analysis, the foregoing of the member 26 is towill so fully reveal the gist of this-inven-' tion that others can,byapplying'current knowledge, readily adapt it for various utilizationsby retaining one or moreof the features that, from the standpoint .ofthe r art, fairly constitute essent al char-; acteristics of eitherthe-generic OISPBClfiQ prior aspects of this invention and, therefore,such adaptations should'be, and are intended to be,.comprehended withinthe meaning and range of equivalency of the following claims.

Having thus revealed this invention, I claim 'as new and desire tosecure the following combinations and elements, or equivalents thereof,by Letters Patent of the United States v 1. In a shaper, a ram; means toreciprocate the rain; means to. regulate the stroke of the ram includinga manually adjustable shaft; means to lock said shaft in its a-djustedpositions, said last named means including an elongated hand graspedclampin member threaded upon said v shaft, sai member being of a lengthsubstantially the width of the hand of an operator.

2. In combination with a shaper-ram stroke-regulating mechanismincluding an adjusting shaft having an end projecting from the side ofthe shaper; a hand grasped member of a length substantially the width ofthe hand of an operator threaded upon said shaft, said member having aportion adapted upon rotation of the member to engage a non-shiftablepart of the shaper .to clamp the shaft against rotation; and a portionsurrounding the free end of said shaft,

to prevent accidental contact with said shaft. 3. In combination with ashaper-ram stroke-regulating mechanism including an adjusting shaft; amember fixed to said shaft; a thrust-bearing adjacent said memher andcooperating therewith to prevent endwise movement of the shaft in onedirect1on;a second thrust bearlng; an elongated hand grasped clamplngelement threaded upon said shaft and adapted to en-, gage said secondthrust-bearing to move said shaft endwise thereby to draw said memberinto engagement with said first named thrust-bearing to lock said shaftagainst rotation, said clamping element being of a length substantiallytwice its diameter and having a roughened exterior surface.

4. In a shaper, a ram; means to reciprocate the ram; means to regulatethe stroke of the ram including an actuating shaft having a threadedportion projecting outwardly from the frame gf the shaper and apolygonal end projecting beyond said threaded portion and adapted toreceive a crank; a cylindrical clamping nut threaded upon the threadedportion of the shaft; and a thrust bearing cooperating with said nut andadapted upon rotation of the nut to effect length substantially that ofthe width of an operators hand by means of which the nut maybe manuallyrotated.

5. In combination with a shaper-ram stroke-regulating means lncludlng astroke adjusting shaft having a free end projecting outwardly from thecolumn of the shaper and adapted to receive an actuating crank; a guardentirely surrounding said free end of the shaft, said guard being formedwith a bore adapted to admit of the insertion of a portion of the crankto engage the shaft, and an internal abutment provided by said guard tolimit the inward movement'of the crank.

6. In combination with a sha Jer-ram stroke-regulating mechanism incluing an adjusting shaft having a free end adapted to receive an actuatingcrank, a hand grasped element threaded upon said shaft and having asleeve-like portion adapted to guard said free end of the shaft; anabutment provided by said element to limit the inward movement of thecrank; a nut provided by said element to lock said shaft in adjustedpositions, said parts being so constructed and arranged that the outersurface of the nut and sleeve-like portion together form a continuoushand-grasp of a length substantially that of the width of an operato-rshand by means of which the nut may be rotated.

7. In a shaper, a ram; means to reciprocate the ram; means to vary theextent of reciprocation of the ram, said last named means including amanuallyadjustable shaft having one end projecting outwardly from thecolumn of the shaper and squared to receive'a crank; a combinedshaft-clamping and shaft-guard sleeve threaded upon said shaftandextending to the free end thereof and having a bore within which thecrank may be inserted and fitted upon said shaft; and an internalshoulder adapted to limit the inward movement of the crank on thesquared end of id shaft.

